Past Events

Pastors for Peace is a small non-profit organization with offices in New York City which has sponsored 17 caravans to Cuba, transporting donated goods in both directions and developing friendships with Cuban people. Pastors for Peace is working for a foreign policy based on ending the US government’s travel ban and blockade of Cuba.

In June and July the caravan originates at 14 separate departure points beginning in Canadian provinces and in northern states in the US. Vehicles carrying 100 people will travel south stopping in some 120 towns and cities to discuss the harms being done by the US blockade of Cuba and to gather up some 60 tons of humanitarian aid which has been donated for Cuban people.

One route of the caravan with some 16 people will pass through Jefferson County, stopping at the Rolling Ridge Retreat House on Mission Road, June 25. You are welcome to come to a potluck supper with the caravan members to hear them share their vision for friendship between peoples of the US and Cuba and for challenging the blockade of Cuba.

• Potluck supper will occur at 5:00 pm
• Presentation of the Caravan’s mission by Lisa Valenti at 6:00 pm

The featured speaker who is traveling with the caravan on this route is Lisa Valenti. She has traveled to Cuba over 20 times and is the founder and president of the national US Cuba Sister Cities Association, President of the Pittsburgh Matanzas Sister City Project, National Co-Chair of the Cuba Action Committee of WILPF, and founder of the Pittsburgh CUBA Coalition. She also serves as a consultant and most recently facilitated the University of Pittsburgh’s Semester at Sea to go to Cuba bringing the largest number of US students (over 700) ever to go to Cuba. She has traveled extensively as a public speaker on the US blockade of Cuba throughout the US as well as Canada, Mexico, Britain, Belgium and the Netherlands. Lisa has been an active participant on each of the Pastor’s for Peace US-Cuba Caravans. She explains, “It’s what I do to put my deepest prayers for peace into action.”

Driving directions to the Retreat House from Charles Town are as follows: Take Route 9 east toward Leesburg, Virginia, cross the Shenandoah River and continue about a mile until Mission Road, turn right and continue 6.5 miles until a gravel road to the left, take this road about a mile until a sign at the Retreat House lane. Telephone Vivian Headings, 304-725-4172 for further information.

"Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God. Have mercy on me."

ROLLING RIDGE STUDY RETREAT CENTER has designed a 24-hour opportunity for spiritual growth in an experience of contemplative community.

It is said of St. Francis of Assissi and St. Seraphim of Sarov that they were prayer. They lived out the apostle Paul's exhortation to us to "pray without ceasing."

In this 24 hour pilgrimage, we will learn about the Jesus Prayer, also known as the Prayer of the Heart, from the life experience of two retreat leaders who have been actively working with the Jesus Prayer for the past thirty years. We will learn a way of practicing the prayer that connects it with the daily experience of our embodied humanity.

WHO IS IT FOR? It is for anyone who wishes to explore their own spiritual development.

WHAT WILL TAKE PLACE? The schedule provides for:

• Short talks on the Jesus Prayer followed by guided practice
• Learning how to encorporate the Jesus Prayer into a walking meditation
• Reflection on some short articles from experienced practitioners of the prayer distributed before the retreat
• Extended periods of silence to allow each retreatant time to develop the Jesus Prayer within themselves
• Learning to use a "prayer rope" with the Jesus Prayer
• Simple physical exercises to deepen body awareness
• Keeping the monastic hours with contemplative worship in the Meditation Shelter
• Conversation with other retreat participants during meal times
• Time for rest, meditation, personal reflection, hikes along a mountain stream or through a secluded wooded path
• Simple and nourishing home cooked meals from the Rolling Ridge garden

WHO WILL BE LEADING THE RETREAT?

• Georgia DuBose is a Deacon in the Nelson Cluster Episcopal Regional Ministries in Jefferson County, West Virginia. She first worked with the Jesus Prayer when she was 16, and after meeting a teacher with extensive experience with the prayer, began to practice it regularly in 1976.
• Donald Krickbaum is an Episcopal priest, retired Dean of Trinity Cathedral, Miami, Florida, spiritual director and formation teacher, and a program leader at Shalem, an ecumenical Christian teaching community dedicated to the support of contemplative living and leadership.

WHEN DOES THIS TAKE PLACE?

• Begins Friday, June 2, 2006, with registration at 5:30 pm, dinner at 6:30 pm
• Concludes Saturday night, June 3, 2006, after supper
• Optional stay Saturday night through Sunday lunch for those who wish to schedule their own private retreat. Please plan on bringing your own food for this extended stay.

WHAT ARE THE ACCOMMODATIONS AND COST

• Retreat cost is $60, and includes lodging for one night at Rolling Ridge Retreat Center and four meals ($75 for those staying an additional day)
• Some limited scholarships are available.
• Directions: http://www.rollingridge.net/index.cfm?action=about_us.directions

HOW DO I REGISTER?

We only have room for 15 participants. Reserve your space by sending $25 to the address listed below. Make checks out to Rolling Ridge Study Retreat Community. Let us know if you have special dietary or lodging requirements. For more information, contact Bob Sabath.

IS THIS FOR YOU?

Contrary to popular belief, spirituality is not something special or extraordinary. It is instead absolutely ordinary and completely natural. Everyone has a spiritual life. We express it in many different ways -- not only in places of worship but also in work, community and family, in all our creativity and commitments. This desire for the Holy in our lives is our willingness to be drawn to God through whatever is before us and to let God co-create every moment -- to let God "in" on everything -- to listen for and trust God's presence.

"For the past six months, I have been exploring the Jesus Prayer, a tool used in early monastic communities for developing sustained connection to self and God in the present moment."

The Jesus Prayer has been practiced by many over the centuries and has helped them to experience the Holy One in the unfolding of all life events."

I have learned a lot from Georgia DuBose who has been actively working with the Jesus Prayer for the past 30 years, and from Don Krickbaum who has become a good friend and wise guide for me in developing a more consistent inner practice of prayer." -- Bob Sabath

This retreat is for children and their parents or grandparents, listening together for the stories and words of the earth.

Throughout his ministry, Jesus regularly took time to withdraw to a quiet place, to reflect and pray.

Retreat and rest is vital, and yet busy schedules often prevent us from setting aside the time we need.

We invite you to join us on the second Monday of each month for "A Day Away," a Sabbath day especially set aside for pastors and church leaders at Rolling Ridge Study Retreat Community.

Second Mondays

"A Day Away" for pastors and church leaders will take place the second Monday of each month. The day is offered at no cost to attendees. Donations are accepted. Join us as often as you wish!

RSVP

Please let us know you will be attending by calling 304-724-6653 or emailing us at community@rollingridge.net. But if you forget to let us know in advance, come anyway!

About Rolling Ridge

Rolling Ridge Study Retreat Community is a non-profit, ecumenical retreat center, begun in 1986. It is located on 1400 acres of wilderness land in the Blue Ridge mountains. Facilities include a Retreat House, Meditation Shelter, and an Art Cottage.

Private Retreats

In addition, the Retreat House is frequently available during the week for private retreats. Please call the staff community at 304-724-6653 to schedule a time.

Directions

From Charles Town or Martinsburg: Go east on Route 9. After crossing the Shenandoah River, go one mile and then turn right on Mission Road. Go 6.3 miles, and turn left at the Rolling Ridge sign onto the gravel road (still called Mission Road). Go one mile and turn right at the intersection, following Mission Road. Go .3 miles and turn left at Christ Church Road, following the signs for Retreat House.